My experience is that most people here use the center lane responsibly as a merge lane. Legal or not... It's never bothered me.

I'm glad it's not enforced because I do it too.

I guess your post isn't so clear to me.

Jamie

Jamie, sorry but what part of my post isn't clear? I object to the practice for a number of reasons. 1. It clogs up the left turn lane for those who want to use it for its intended purpose. 2. When drivers continue moving in the left turn lane while waiting to merge, it compounds the problem. 3. It creates a genuine hazard for motorcyclists beyond just a potential fender-bender. 4. Frequently, drivers "dart" across on-coming traffic just to make it to the left turn lane really without adequate clearance, which potentially causes a dangerous situation because the rest of us on the road can't read their mind regarding their intention.

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I came into this world kicking, crying and covered in someone else's blood. I have no problem leaving the same way.

I live and ride a lot in PHX. AZ. Lately I've noticed a lot of cagers using the left turn lane as a "safe place" when they want to turn left. They typically dart into the left turn lane when traffic coming from their left permits. Then, coast/drive slowly, sometimes blinker on/sometimes not, indicating their intention to move to the right when possible.

Is this maneuver legal where you live? It used to be illegal here, but I've never seen it enforced; not sure if it's currently legal.

It is legal in California and Arizona, and likely always has been legal.

Many major surface streets have center lanes that can be used by traffic in either direction to make left turns. A two-way left turn center lane is marked by double parallel yellow lines, with the exterior lines solid and the interior dashed on each side. If a street has a center left turn lane, you may enter and use it to enter or exit a driveway or private road, when preparing for or making a left turn, or when preparing for or making a U-turn if permitted. If exiting a driveway or private road, you may use this lane to merge. You may not drive more than 200 feet in the center left turn lane. You may drive across a center left turn lane if needed.

Many major surface streets have center lanes that can be used by traffic in either direction to make left turns. A two-way left turn center lane is marked by double parallel yellow lines, with the exterior lines solid and the interior dashed on each side. If a street has a center left turn lane, you may enter and use it to enter or exit a driveway or private road, when preparing for or making a left turn, or when preparing for or making a U-turn if permitted. If exiting a driveway or private road, you may use this lane to merge. You may not drive more than 200 feet in the center left turn lane. You may drive across a center left turn lane if needed.

Well, thanks for the information. You may have seen my earlier post where a police officer I spoke with said it wasn't legal to use the turn lane for merging. Now that I've read your post, I guess I'll just have to shut the hell up and live with the situation I will say however that almost everyone violates the 200 ft. rule, at least around here. Thanks again.

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I came into this world kicking, crying and covered in someone else's blood. I have no problem leaving the same way.

Many major surface streets have center lanes that can be used by traffic in either direction to make left turns. A two-way left turn center lane is marked by double parallel yellow lines, with the exterior lines solid and the interior dashed on each side. If a street has a center left turn lane, you may enter and use it to enter or exit a driveway or private road, when preparing for or making a left turn, or when preparing for or making a U-turn if permitted. If exiting a driveway or private road, you may use this lane to merge. You may not drive more than 200 feet in the center left turn lane. You may drive across a center left turn lane if needed.

Exactly. That's the way we do it here as well. I'm a bit surprised that it seems to be difficult to understand.

Well, thanks for the information. You may have seen my earlier post where a police officer I spoke with said it wasn't legal to use the turn lane for merging. Now that I've read your post, I guess I'll just have to shut the hell up and live with the situation I will say however that almost everyone violates the 200 ft. rule, at least around here. Thanks again.

A long time ago, I learned to always take a cop's opinion with a grain of salt. They're not always right.

Washington State law RCW46.61.290
"(c) Upon a roadway where a center lane has been provided by distinctive pavement markings for the use of vehicles turning left from either direction, no vehicles may turn left from any other lane. A vehicle shall not be driven in this center lane for the purpose of overtaking or passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction. No vehicle may travel further than three hundred feet within the lane. A signal, either electric or manual, for indicating a left turn movement, shall be made at least one hundred feet before the actual left turn movement is made."

I use the center lane as a get-on waiting spot to merge into traffic going left. A problem here locally is with the dimwits who turn left and wait in the oncoming traffic's left turn lane! Man---if the double yellow line is on your left, you are on the wrong side of the road!!

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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.Henry David Thoreau

You know guys, I'm not sure I "get all of this shit"; my original post had to do with "assholes" who abuse the center lane (left turn lane). Now, thanks to a previous poster; I understand that I was wrong. (except for the MF'rs who abuse how long they can "travel" in that lane without merging. IMO, it's still a problem for moto riders! And one that "y'all (I learned that when I briefly lived in NC) need to be aware of and exercise caution. No hard feelings to anyone but I still think it stinks that cagers can use that lane to merge.

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I came into this world kicking, crying and covered in someone else's blood. I have no problem leaving the same way.

When I went to traffic school here in phoenix a while back this came up. And the previous poster is right, you can drive up to 200 ft.

But the general consensus is you shouldn't try to get up to speed in it. If you are using the center lane to merge you should come to a stop until you see an opening.

It works pefectly fine that way. When people actually drive in that lane it makes things way too dangerous because someone from the other side could be trying to take a left.

It pisses me off when people drive in it. Yeah, sometimes there's heavy traffic and you really need to use it if you don't want to wait all day, but it's not that hard to come to a stop. I don't understand why anyone would want to drive in it when it's a fucking two way.

When I went to traffic school here in phoenix a while back this came up. And the previous poster is right, you can drive up to 200 ft.

But the general consensus is you shouldn't try to get up to speed in it. If you are using the center lane to merge you should come to a stop until you see an opening.

It works pefectly fine that way. When people actually drive in that lane it makes things way too dangerous because someone from the other side could be trying to take a left.

It pisses me off when people drive in it. Yeah, sometimes there's heavy traffic and you really need to use it if you don't want to wait all day, but it's not that hard to come to a stop. I don't understand why anyone would want to drive in it when it's a fucking two way.

What this gentleman said!

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I came into this world kicking, crying and covered in someone else's blood. I have no problem leaving the same way.

I don't know what the law says about this here in Virginia and I really don't care because the lanes exist and people use them however they see fit. The issue seems to be another one of those "you just better watch your ass because some idiot is aimed at you" traffic maneuvers that can be dangerous if you aren't paying attention. I've seen people drive for an entire block in the turn lane as well as use it as a merge lane and I've never seen a police officer stop anyone for it. Around here we also use the left turn lane to store road salt, sand, broken glass, etc. that you have to be careful of. It's just another of the thousands of things to keep on your radar as you ride if you want to live to ride another day, not something to get too upset about. I worry more about the white-tailed deer around here - those fookers don't pay ANY attention to the laws about crossing or merging with traffic and I've never once seen the cops pull one of them over!

Doug

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"If it doesn't blow smoke and make noise, it isn't a sport!" - radio ad for shop in Bozeman, MT

I don't know what the law says about this here in Virginia and I really don't care because the lanes exist and people use them however they see fit. The issue seems to be another one of those "you just better watch your ass because some idiot is aimed at you" traffic maneuvers that can be dangerous if you aren't paying attention. I've seen people drive for an entire block in the turn lane as well as use it as a merge lane and I've never seen a police officer stop anyone for it. Around here we also use the left turn lane to store road salt, sand, broken glass, etc. that you have to be careful of. It's just another of the thousands of things to keep on your radar as you ride if you want to live to ride another day, not something to get too upset about. I worry more about the white-tailed deer around here - those fookers don't pay ANY attention to the laws about crossing or merging with traffic and I've never once seen the cops pull one of them over!

Doug

Yep, I'd have to agree with you Doug. Not many deer around here, at least not that jump across the road; just the occasional wild burro standing in the road.

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I came into this world kicking, crying and covered in someone else's blood. I have no problem leaving the same way.

I'm not sure it's more of a problem for riders than not using it (properly). Drivers abusing it as a merge / acceleration lane- yeah, that's a problem- but a problem for everyone, based on the frequent mess in front of the local Wally World.